[470 words]
In the earthly, material realm, “love” and “hate” are defined according to the way of thinking that belongs to this world. That means both words are fluid in meaning. In other words, how love is defined today may or may not correspond to how another generation defines it. The same with the word hate. The evidence for this is our current, corrupted society. A Google definition of hate speech reads this way: “abusive or threatening speech or writing that expresses prejudice against a particular group, especially on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation.”
Thus, to speak against the moral behavior of a person or a group is to manifest “hate”? This is Satan’s ploy to thwart God’s message in a world of increased wickedness; this illustrates the sentiment of Isaiah 5:20 (“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”).
Fortunately, the Lord does not use the definition of current society (or any society) to define what He means when He uses the words “love” and “hate” in specific contexts.
Love, in the context of response to the Lord is related to obeying His will. This makes sense because the word “love” is seeking that which is best for oneself and others. Is not obeying the Father’s will an example of what is best for oneself and others? It is, and to say otherwise is not to know what love is in relation to its Source or Founder. When one refuses to apply the Father’s definition for their personal salvation, how can this be defined as love? It can’t!
The alternative to the Father’s definition is that which is of the world; how that can be defined as love has really manifested itself in peaceful sort of way, hasn’t it?! Think about it. If you know that you are about to die, would you not seek to save yourself from death? If so, whose standard will you seek to apply? Now, apply this to helping another person; they are drowning in the water in which they can’t swim, you throw them a life line or jump in the water to reach them.
A Christian who throws in the life-saving instrument (or jumps in) is showing love from a Source greater than himself. On the other hand, a person who is not a Christian, the source of their love is of their own making. What if their definition of love would change? In our world of selfishness, fluid definitions never work well. There is no anchoring quality wherein each can understand what is meant. With the Lord, His word means the same always and His love is the anchor of our soul in a floundering and fluid world.
Ron Thomas
Sunrush church of Christ
Chillicothe, OH